Collapsible furniture



HAQQJM April. 11, 1924.,

E, SEFL GOLLAPSIBLE FURNITURE 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 16 Apaii 1 1924 E. sEFL COLLAPSIBLE FURNITURE Filed June 16 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 1, 1924.

UNITED STATES EMIL SEFL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COLLAPSIIBLE FURNITURE.

Application filed June 16, 1922. Serial No. 568,803.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMU. SEFL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Collapsible Furniture, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a combined desk and chair particularly of the kind in which a desk is attached to the chair and thus forms a single article.

It is an object of the invention to provide a chair to which a desk is attached in such manner that the desk may be collapsed when its use is not required.

- A further object consists therein that the desk may be collapsed so as to'be received under the chairseat.

A still further object aims at constructing the desk so that when housed under the chair seat the chair may be used in the ordinary manner.

The invention further comprises certain features of construction and arrangement- 25 tending to enhance the usefulness, appearance and reliability of an article of the kind specified.

To the accomplishment of the objects stated and others that will become apparent 30 as the description of the invention proceeds the latter comprises the means hereinafter described in the specification and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The drawings illustrate but one of the various ways in which the principle on which the invention is predicated may be utilized.

In said drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a chair constructed in accordance with my invention, with the desk collapsed and housed below the chair seat.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the chair and desk in unfolded or functional position.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the desk, and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the several views of the drawing, 1 desi nates the central part of the desk plate to which are secured by hinges 2 and 3 the side wings 4 and 5 which in horizontal position complement the central part to form a rectangular table.

In order to maintain the wings in the plane of the central part 1, the latter is provided on the underside with a pivotally secured latch 6 adjacent each side and adapted to extend therebeyond andto be received in catches 7 secured to the wings. When in such position, the catches act as braces or holding members for the wings to maintain the same in horizontal position and only after release of the latches may the wings be lowered about their hinges.

To the underside of the desk plate 1 a guide member generally designated by 8 is secured by screws and terminates in a hook 9 opening toward the center of the table. The guide member is bent at right angles to the desk plate past the screws 10 and thence extends parallel to the table to finally slowly approach the underside of the table until contact therewith.

On the member 8 a longitudinal rod 11 is adapted to ride which connects two arms 12 pivotally secured as at 13 to upright members 14. The upper ends of the uprights 14 are connected by a rod 15 loosely extending through the depending legs of angle brack ets 16 secured to the underside of the table desk adjacent the outer edge thereof. The lower ends of the uprights 14 are pivotally secured as at 14 to the upper ends of upstanding arms 17 of a frame 18, said arms being braced by a horizontal bar 19 rigidly secured thereto. A similar bar 20 connects the lower ends of uprights 14.

In order to maintain the uprights 14 in alignment with the arms 17 a latch 21 is pivotally secured to the bar 19 and is adapted to be received by a catch 22 secured to the bar 20. In addition latches 23 are pivotally secured to the bar 20 and are formed to con tact with the outer side of bar 19 when swung into vertical position.

The frame 18 has horizontal members 24 integral with the arms 17 which are articulated at 24 with the lower ends of the front legs 25 of a chair generally designated by 26. A brace 27 connects the members 24 of the frame to impart rigidity thereto.

The chair 26 is of standard construction except that the seat 28 is sectionalized. The rear section 29 is rigid and the seat 28 is pivotally secured thereto by hinges 30. The seat is also formed with an integral depending ledge 31 which bears on the outer faces of the front legs 25. Braces 32 connect the back 33 with the longitudinal members 24.

The collapsing and storing of. the desk un-'- derneath the chair seat is accomplished in the following manner: Assuming the desk to be arranged in the position shown in Fig. 2, then in order to collapse the same the wings 4 and 5 are first lowered into vertical position after being released by the latches 6. Thereupon the plate 1 is slightly tilted upwardly to disengage the rod 11 from the hook 9 and to permit the rod to fall on the horizontal portion of the guide member 8. Thereupon the plate 1 is lowered about the rod 15 to occupy a vertical position contacting with the upright 14.

Subsequently, the uprights 14 and the plate 1 are swung about the pivots 14' away from the chair, of course, after the latches 21 and 23 have been arranged in idle position.

Finally the frame 18 isturned about the pivots 24 and in such movement the desk plate and the uprights which have been arranged in vertical position along the arms 17 will ultimately occupy a horizontal position underneath the seat 28 which may be slightly tilted upwardly to provide the necessary clearance when the frame part 17 and desk plate 1 is swung therebeneath.

As is obvious from Fig. 1 the chair when housing the desk, is capable of being used like an ordinary chair, as there are no protruding parts which would interfere. The general appearance of the chair is furthermore not marred by the fact that the desk is stored under the seat.

The invention is capable of a large number of changes and variations fairly falling within the spirit of the invention.

I, therefore do not limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement as shown in the preferred embodiment of the invention, but claim my invention as broadly as the state of the art permits.

I claim: 7

1. In combination with a chair, a frame comprising horizontal arms and uprights pivotally connected to said chair, links pivotally secured to said uprights and adapted to be maintained in vertical position, and a desk secured to said links, said frame and links permitting arrangement of said desk under the seat of said chair.

2. In combination with a chair, a frame comprising horizontal arms and uprights pivotally connected to said chair, links pivotally secured to said uprights, releasable means for maintaining said links in vertical position, a desk pivotally secured to said links, and releasable means for maintaining said desk in horizontalposition, said frame and links permitting arrangementof said desk under the seat of said chair.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 8th day of June, 1922.

EMIL SEFL. 

